Sweet Chili Air Fryer Chicken (Printable)

Crispy glazed chicken thighs with sweet chili sauce, air-fried to golden perfection in under 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)

→ Marinade & Glaze

02 - 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
04 - 1 tablespoon honey
05 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
13 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Steps:

01 - Pat the chicken thighs thoroughly dry with paper towels to ensure maximum crispiness during cooking.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
03 - Place the chicken thighs in a large zip-top bag or shallow dish. Pour 2/3 of the marinade over the chicken, reserving the remaining portion for glazing. Seal and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to overnight.
04 - Set the air fryer to 390°F and allow it to preheat fully before adding the chicken.
05 - Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess. Place the thighs skin-side down in the air fryer basket in a single, even layer without overcrowding.
06 - Cook for 12 minutes, then flip the chicken thighs using tongs. Brush generously with the reserved marinade and continue air frying for another 10 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
07 - Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for 3 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro, toasted sesame seeds, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sweet chili glaze creates the kind of lacquered, sticky skin that makes everyone reach for seconds before finishing their first piece.
  • Thirty two minutes from fridge to plate means this beats takeout on both speed and satisfaction.
  • Bone-in thighs stay incredibly juicy inside no matter how crispy the outside gets, which makes this nearly foolproof.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting step because cutting too early sends all those delicious juices running onto your plate instead of staying in the meat.
  • Crowding the air fryer basket is the fastest way to end up with steamed rather than crispy chicken, so cook in batches if needed.
03 -
  • Brush the reserved glaze on during the last few minutes rather than all at once for layered flavor and deeper color.
  • Check sweet chili sauce labels if you are cooking for someone with gluten sensitivities because many brands hide wheat in their ingredients.

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